Aschaffenburg to Metz
Germany, Luxembourg, France Bike + Boat Tours
Bike & Boat on the Main, Rhine, & Mosel tour
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length14 days
- Prices from€2395 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
Bike and boat in the heart of the Rhine Valley from Germany into France as you navigate ancient waters and pedal through villages that date back to the Middle Ages.
On this 9 or 14-day slow travel tour, you will have plenty of time to explore. Vineyards climb the hillsides, historic castles sit atop the mountains, and river landscapes enchant.
Climb aboard the Quo Vadis and climb atop your bicycle and pedal these ancient places that reach down through time, connecting us with great literature, music, and history.
Highlights
- Lovely accommodation
- Bustling Frankfurt
- Preserved medieval towns, villages, and cities
- River history, culture, and landscape
- Wine of the region
We have many other bike and boat tours in Germany. Be sure to check them out!
Itinerary
14 Day Tour Itinerary below. 9 Day itinerary starts with arrival on Day 6 in Cochem between 3 & 5PM.
Day 1: Arrival in Aschaffenburg
Day 2: Aschaffenburg - Offenbach - Frankfurt, 30 mi. (48 km)
Day 3: Frankfurt - Mainz, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 4: Mainz - Rüdesheim, 22 mi. (35 km) + optional 5 mi. (8 km)
Day 5: Rüdesheim - Oberwessel - Koblenz, 19 mi. (30 km)
Day 6: Koblenz - Winningen - Cochem, 26 or 31 mi. (41 or 50 km)
Day 7: Cochem - Beilstein - Zell, 23 mi. (37 km)
Day 8: Zell - Traben Trarbach - BernKastel-Kues, 25 mi. (40 km)
Day 9: BernKastel-Kues, Daun excursion, 39 mi. (62 km)
Day 10: Bernkastel-Kues - Neumagen - Schweich | Schweich - Trier, 18 or 34 mi. (28 ot 54 km)
Day 11: Trier - Saarburg, 18 mi. (28 km)
Day 12: Saarburg - Remich, 27 or 32 mi. (45 or 53 km)
Day 13: Remich - Schengen | Schengen - Thionville | Thionville - Metz, 18 mi. (30 km)
Day 14: Metz*All distances are approximate. The itinerary is subject to change sometimes without prior notice. Some waterways may be subject to occasional closures due to drought, storms, floods, canal or lock repairs, or other unforeseen circumstances that make navigation unsafe or impossible. The captain reserves the right to make any changes deemed necessary.
Day 1: Arrival in Aschaffenburg
You may check-in on the boat at 3 pm. Unpack, refresh, and explore the city. At 6 pm, you will be officially welcomed on board as you enjoy a complimentary beverage and then your first onboard dinner. After each evening meal, you are able to go exploring!Day 2: Aschaffenburg - Offenbach - Frankfurt, 30 mi. (48 km)
From Aschaffenburg, you pedal through Kleinosheim and Dettingen, cross the river by ferry, and visit the romantic and well preserved medieval village of Seligenstadt. This town has winding lanes, half-timbered houses, a basilica, and most importantly, a very popular brewery. The tour continues along the Main River to Klein-Krotzenburg and Steinheim with its charming old town to Hanau, the birthplace of the famous Brothers Grimm. From Mühlheim, you bike to Offenbach, where the Quo Vadis is waiting and it is off to Frankfurt. Highlights here include the Old Town Center, the St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, the beautiful Old Opera House, great museums, and much more.Day 3: Frankfurt - Mainz, 25 mi. (40 km)
Following the Main River, the route leads to Rüsselsheim and further, on the left side of the river, to Ginsheim-Gustavsburg. Here the Main flows into the Rhine. You’ll cross the river to Mainz with its Rheinufer promenade where the Quo Vadis will be waiting for you. Mainz is famous for the timbered houses, the Cathedral of Mainz, lovely churches, and squares. You can visit small boutiques, pubs, and ‘Weinstuben’ which are hidden in Baroque houses and behind Rococo façades.Day 4: Mainz - Rüdesheim, 22 mi. (35 km) + optional 5 mi. (8 km)
After breakfast, you cycle to the center of Mainz to first enjoy the city, with the possibility to visit one of the many museums. Afterward, you will cycle along the Rhine passing lovely villages like Eltville. You can do an optional detour (+5 mi/8 km) to visit the Eberbach Abbey. Arriving in Rüdesheim in the afternoon, do not miss the opportunity to take a stroll through the Drosselgasse, a cobblestone alley with many restored half-timbered houses in the heart of the Old Town.Day 5: Rüdesheim - Oberwessel - Koblenz, 19 mi. (30 km)
Your cycling tour takes you along the left bank of the Rhine, past towering castles, through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon you will meet the Quo Vadis again and you will navigate the famous bend in the Rhine, the Loreley, to Koblenz. This lively rebuilt historic town at the confluence with the Moselle has cozy squares, plenty cafés, a castle garden, and the Deutsches Eck monument at the promenade, best enjoyed during an evening walkDay 6: Koblenz - Winningen - Cochem, 26 or 31 mi. (41 or 50 km) THIS CAN ALSO BE ARRIVAL DAY FOR 9 DAY TOUR, ARRIVAL BETWEEN 3 - 5PM.
This route on the banks of the Moselle showcases sloping vineyards and hilltop castles, charming half-timbered villages, and small historic towns, adorned with vines and geraniums. You shouldn’t miss the charming Kobern town square, the garden of Schloss Liebieg, the vast Von der Leyen castle extended over the road, the Hatzenpfort ferry tower or the fine Romanesque church of Karden. At Klotten one could take a ferry to have a more quiet approach to Cochem, where we find the Quo Vadis again. This is a charming small historic town with lively streets and terraces, and of course the hilltop castle which you can take a shuttle to visit.Day 7: Cochem - Beilstein - Zell, 23 mi. (37 mi.)
In Beilstein, you will have the chance to see the Black Madonna in the chapel of the Carmelite Monastery high on the hill. During a short tour, you can explore the quaint and narrow alleyways and alcoves. Today’s tour ends in the wine village of Zell on the Moselle. Zell sits in a lovely location on the Moselle, where the river meanders through the hills in many loops. Zeller Schwarze Katz (Black Cat) is a legendary Moselle Wine so be sure to enjoy.Day 8: Zell - Traben Trarbach - BernKastel-Kues, 25 mi. (40 km)
The bike tour from Zell brings you to romantic Traben-Trarbach, prominent in the international wine trade during the 19th century, and featuring world-class Art Nouveau architecture. It is then onward to Bernkastel-Kues, this frequently visited, old and picturesque town produces the best wines of the Mid-Moselle. The pride of the town is the market square, with its picturesque timber-framed houses.Day 9: Bernkastel-Kues, Daun excursion, 39 mi. (62 km)
You leave the river and vineyards behind and are shuttled by bus up into the Eifel region to the city of Daun. From there, an exhilarating bike ride follows a former railway track that is now a cycling path. The ride includes stretches through tunnels, over bridges, and by small lakes formed from volcano craters, known as maars.Day 10: Bernkastel-Kues - Neumagen - Schweich | Schweich - Trier, 18 or 34 mi. (28 ot 54 km)
From Bernkastel, the valley opens up and vineyards expand as far as the eye can see. Today you cruise past the heavy-hitters in the wine world: Brauneberg, Piesport, Trittenheim. Piesport is beloved by the Brits for the “little golden droplets.” Trittenheim lies in a sharp hairpin turn on the river surrounded by mountains coated with grapes. Around lunchtime, you will arrive in Neumagen, a Roman center for wine production. You can decide to join the barge from here or continue by bicycle to Schweich, where again the barge will be waiting for you. Once on board you will cruise to Trier, the oldest city in Germany. Trier was founded in the 4th century B.C. by Caesar Augustus under the name of Augusta Trevorum. As a trading town and administrative center, Trier flourished during the late imperial age. This Roman golden age has left us with a respectable number of monuments. Most authentic is the city gate Porta Nigra, which was built about 170 AD.Day 11: Trier - Saarburg, 18 mi. (28 km)
In the morning your tour leader will take you into Trier and you can walk in history. There is also time to discover and enjoy Trier on your own. After lunch, you will hop on your bicycles and follow the Mosel and Saar river to Saarburg, an interesting old town situated in the most beautiful part of the Saar valley, with densely forested river banks. The castle of Saarburg was built here in the middle of the 10th century. In the middle of town, you come across a waterfall of 20 meters high. At the foot of this waterfall, there is an old mill, powered by the small river. In this part of town most of the old houses from the 17th and 18th centuries, which give Saarburg such a picturesque look, are still intact. Today there is no dinner on board. You can select one of the local restaurants in Saarburg.Day 12: Saarburg - Remich, 27 or 32 mi. (45 or 53 km)
Today there are two cycling options. One is easy, but a bit longer along the rivers. The shorter option is a bit more challenging, through the hills. Whatever your choice is, the cycling will lead you into the Grand Duchy Luxembourg. Here the Moselle forms the border between Germany and Luxembourg. Luxembourg is a small country, but her capital (also called Luxembourg) is an important financial center and EU administrative city. On the way, at the Luxembourg side, we visit a wine cooperative, specialized in “Cremant”, the Champagne of the Moselle. Close to Remich you can admire a Roman mosaic floor. The tile floor which lies in its original place, was once the centerpiece in a palatial Roman villa. The scene (in 3 million individual tile pieces) reveals scenes from gladiator games in the amphitheater.Day 13: Remich - Schengen | Schengen - Thionville | Thionville - Metz, 18 mi. (30 km)
While having breakfast you will cruise to Schengen, where your cycling tour will start. The “Schengen agreement” is something everybody in Europe has heard of, whereas almost nobody knows that it is named after this little town in Luxembourg at the 3-country border. As youl cross the Luxembourg-French border, you will experience one of the outcomes of this agreement: no border controls. You pass the fortress of Sierck-les-Bains, one of the palaces inhabited by the powerful Dukes of Lorraine. The route is lovely through French countryside and friendly villages. Around lunchtime, you will arrive in Thionville, the center of the steel industry until the 1980s. That might sound modern and industrial, but the city is ancient. The historic center reveals medieval ramparts, lovely gardens, old streets, and St. Maximin Basilica. Here the ship is waiting to pick you up to cruise to Metz, another ancient city strategically situated on a Roman trading route. St. Etienne Cathedral is the 3rd largest Gothic church in France with flying buttresses and Marc Chagall stained glass windows. Metz is full of stunning architecture, flowers, and great cafes.Day 14: Metz
Disembarkation after breakfast.If you’re looking for a different flavor, check out our full list of bike and boat tours or view all our featured bike trips, specials, and news.gg
Boats & Bikes
- Quo Vadis
Deluxe Class Barge
The beautiful MS Quo Vadis, a refurbished cargo barge, was put into service in April 2006 as a bike and boat vessel and continues to be lovingly maintained by her owners Rendert Jan de Waard and Ina Middelburg. The ship exudes a comfortable but stylish ambiance that will put you right at home. The upper deck with a restaurant, bar, and terrace will find you relaxing and enjoying newfound camaraderie. Delicious dishes prepared with fresh, organically grown products, whenever possible, will be a… Read More
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 13 nights on board the Quo Vadis in climate-controlled cabins
- Complimentary beverage on arrival
- 13 breakfasts, 12 packed lunches, 11 three-course dinners & 1 four-course dinner
- Coffee, tea, & hot chocolate
- Daily cleaning of the cabin
- 8-speed city touring bike, hydraulic rim brake including brake booster & Schwalbe Greenguard tires. Equipped with safety lock, gel saddle with quick release, helmet, pannier, & water bottle
- Two tour guides
- Laundry service provided with supplement. See pricing.
- Bus transfer to Daun
- Entrance Reichsburg Cochem
- Tourist tax
- WiFi (Signal speed and strength may not be what you are accustomed to and may not meet your expectations. If you are dependent on a constant, strong, fast, and reliable signal at all times, please consider a personal hot spot such as mywebspot).
What’s Not Included
- 1 dinner
- Drinks other than those mentioned
- Entrance fees & excursions other than those included
- Gratuities
- Bike Protection
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2021
Deluxe Class Boat
Quo Vadis
14-day tour
Sunday departure August 22, 2021
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
2021
Quo Vadis: $ 4030 £ 2099 $ 3,572 € 2395 kr 367184 ₪ 9848 ¥ 404594 Mex$ 44360 NZ$ 4405 NOK 28521 zł 10528 S$ 3558 kr 28273 $ 2,615
Single cabin: On Request
Extra Options
Electric bike: $ 337 £ 175 $ 298 € 200 kr 30663 ₪ 822 ¥ 33787 Mex$ 3704 NZ$ 368 NOK 2382 zł 879 S$ 297 kr 2361 $ 218
Extra Info
Skill Level — Easy
This is an easy guided bike and boat tour that follows the rivers and is therefore relatively flat.
Airport Info
The closest international airport to your tour start in Aschaffenburg is Frankfurt Internationa Airport (FRA) and to the tour end in Metz, is Luxembourg International Airport (LUX).
Local Travel
Aschaffenburg is a 45-minute train ride from Frankfurt International Airport and it is a one hour train ride from Metz to Luxembourg Airport.
Climate
In the majority of Germany, the climate is moderately continental, with cold winters and warm summers. Please check local conditions before your arrival.
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.Tour Operator
This tour is run by Quo Vadis.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
Photos
Have you been on this tour?
Please leave your feedback